Hydrotherapy apparatus

ABSTRACT

A hydrotherapy apparatus includes a frame mounted on caster rollers and carrying a subject-supporting platform has drain openings and raised side borders with longitudinal slots. Springcounterbalanced housings containing distributor manifolds are vertically movable through the slots between raised and retracted positions and have discharge openings in their inner walls. Nozzles are supported by the manifolds in registry with the discharge openings. A crank-operated mechanism effects the raising and lowering of the housings. An extension tray is located at an end of the platform and is movable between retracted and extended positions.

I United States Patent [1 1 [111 3,890,965 Drew June 24, 1975 HYDROTHERAPY APPARATUS Primary Examiner-Lawrence W. Trapp [76] Inventor: Marie Drew, 636 Commonwealth, Attorney Agent or F m wflham Llberman Bronx, NY. 10471 22 Filed: May 8, 1974 1 1 AB TRACT 21 APPL 46 ,029 A hydrotherapy apparatus includes a frame mounted on caster rollers and carrying a subject-supporting platform has drain openings and raised side borders [3] 128/66, 128/66 R with longitudinal Slots springcoumerbalanced hous d A6 lh 9/00 ings containing distributor manifolds are vertically 1 o earc l 6* 4/146 movable through the slots between raised and re- /1 180 tracted positions and have discharge openings in their inner walls. Nozzles are supported by the manifolds in [56] References cued registry with the discharge openings. A crank- UNITED STATES PATENTS operated mechanism effects the raising and lowering 1,716,109 6/ 1929 Bruggman 128/66 of the housings. An extension tray is located at an end 2,793,372 5/1957 Hohman 128/66 X of the platform and is movable between retracted and 3,378,857 4/1968 Lucian 4/146 extended positions I 3,579,659 5/1971 Baumann 4/180 9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUN 24 I975 SHEET FIG.2

PATENTEDJUN24 1915 I sum sum PATENTEDJUN 24 ms LIT? I-IYDROTI-IERAPY APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to improvements in hydrotherapy apparatus and it relates more particularly to an improved hydrotherapy apparatus which facilitates the treatment of non-ambulatory patients. i

A common form of therapy which is widely employed for the treatment of many conditions and ailments involves subjecting all or part of the patients body to sprays or jets of water having varying parameters. such as temperature, pressure. velocity, volume, and the like. However, theapparatus' heretofore employed in this type of therapy possesses numerous drawbacks and disadvantages. It is awkard and inconvenient to use, particularly in the case of non-ambulatory subjects, is of little versatility and adaptability, and otherwise leaves much to be desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved hydrotherapy apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved hydrotherapy apparatus highly suitable for non-ambulatory subjects.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved portable hydrotherapy apparatus for The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof.

In a sense. the present invention contemplates the provision of an improved hydrotherapy apparatus comprising a horizontally extending platform provided with liquid drains, a support frame on which the platform is mounted, longitudinally spaced nozzles located along opposite sides of the platform and directed toward the space above the platform, and means for connecting the nozzles to a source of pressurized liquid.

In the preferred form of the apparatus the frame is mounted on roller casters which may be selectively braked, and the platform has raised side borders provided with longitudinal slots. A housing containing a manifold carrying a group of nozzles is vertically movable through each slot between a raised position above the slot and a retracted position below the slot and is spring-counterbalanced. A hand crank-motivated mechanism raises and lowers the housings in unison. The platform has drain openings formed therein and is provided at one end with a retractable tray. The platform and tray have in their confronting ends recesses which delineate a head accomodating circular opening.

The improved hydrotherapy apparatus is simple and convenient to use, is rugged in use and is highly versatile and adaptable, highly suitable for the treatment of non-ambulatory subjects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view ofa hydrotherapy apparatus FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 77 in FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, reference number 10 generally designates the improved apparatus which comprises a trolley member 11 which includes a wheeled mounting frame 12 which supports a table top or platform 13 and a pair of adjustable spray assemblies 14.

Frame 12 is formed of tubular structural members including vertical corner legs 16 connected at points between their tops and bottoms by a pair of horizontal cross members 17 which in turn are connected by a pair of transversely spaced longitudinal members 18. A caster wheel assembly 19 of known construction depends from each leg 16 and is swivelled about the vertical axis thereof, each of the wheel assemblies including a selectively actuatable wheel brake member 20. Thus. the apparatus 10 may be freely wheeled to any desired area and may be releasably locked against further movement. Formed at the top of each leg 16 is an outwardly directed peripheral flange 25.

Platform 13 is mounted atop legs 16, and includes a main rectangular panel section 21 having a plurality of longitudinally and transversely spaced drain-defining openings 22 formed therein. Integrally formed along the side edges of panel 21 are upwardly directed vertical flanges 23 which join outwardly directed horizontal walls 24 which extend to the outer edges of platform 13, and have medially disposed longitudinal slots 26 extending between points short of the ends of the platform. Depending from the outer edges of horizontal walls 24 and coextensive therewith are depending skirt walls 27 terminating in inwardly directed horizontal flanges 28 having upwardly projecting lips 29 at their inner edges. Narrow skirt walls 30 depend from the end edges of panel 21 and terminate in inwardly directed lips 31, and vertical end walls 32 extend vertically between the corresponding end edges of walls 24 and flanges 28 and join the end edges of skirt walls 27.

A pair of longitudinally spaced transverse channel members 33 are secured to the underface of platform 21 and extend substantially to opposite skirt walls 27. Each channel member 33 includes a bottom web 34 resting on flanges 25 of corresponding legs 16, and having circular openings in coinciding registry with the top openings in the legs 16. Webs 34 are bolted to flanges 25 and the upwardly directed side legs 36 of channel members 33 terminate in outwardly directed coplanar flanges 37 welded to the underface of panel section 21.

A nozzle assembly housing 35 vertically slidably registers with each slot 26 and extends longitudinally a distance somewhat less than the length of slot 26 and is movable between a raised position with its bottom wall coplanar with wall 24 and a depressed position with its top wall coplanar with wall 24. Housing 35 includes top and bottom rectangular walls 38 and 39 respectively, inner and outer transversely spaced rectangular walls 40 and 41 and end walls, inner walls 40 having regularly horizontally and vertically spaced circular discharge openings 42 formed therein. Extending longitudinally from the opposite ends of each top wall 38 and coplanar therewith are a pair of rectangular wings 43 of the width of the wall 38 and extending substantially to the end edges of slots 26.

Mounted within each housing 35 by means of brackets 44 secured to the respective outside wall 41 is a liquid distributing manifold 46, each including a pair of longitudinally extending upper and lower pipes 47 interconnected by a series of longitudinally spaced, vertical pipes 48, suitably mounted on and communicating with each of the horizontal pipes 47 are a group of inwardly directed nozzles 49 being coaxial with a respective discharge opening 42. Manifolds 46 are connected through their pipes 47 and suitable couplings to a flexible pressure hose 50 which is connected, preferably by way of a quick attach-and-release coupling to a source of pressurized water; preferably by way of a throttle valve, an adjustable pressure regulating valve, and a liquid additive injector.

Depending from and secured to the underface of each wing 43, as by welding, is a piston-defining tubular member 51 which slidably telescopes a respective cylinder defining leg 16. A helical compression spring 52 is coaxially disposed in each piston 51 and is entrapped between wing 43 and the bottom end ofleg 16 partially to counterbalance the weight of housing 37 and manifold assemblies 46. Under normal conditions, with no upward force on housing 35 and manifold assemblies, these drop to compress the counterbalance springs 52.

Formed in platform flanges 28 are longitudinally spaced pairs of transversely aligned openings 53, and pairs of bracket plates 54 depend from the flanges 28 along opposite side edges of each opening 53, each pair of bracket plates 54 supporting a transverse pivot pin 56. An angular lever 57 is swingably supported proximate its elbow by each pivot 56 and includes an upper arm 58 provided at its free end with a yoke 59 which freely rotatably supports a transverse roller 60 engaging the underface ofa housing bottom wall 39. The free ends of the lower arms 61 of each pair of longitudinally spaced levers 57 are pivotally connected to the ends of longitudinal connecting rods 63 by pins 64 which are longitudinally spaced a distance equal to that betweenlongitudinally spaced pins 56 to define a parallelogram linkage which similarly raises and lowers rollers 60 and maintains them at a common level. Affixed to and depending from each rod 63 proximate an end thereof is a vertical guide frame 65 which includes a pair of longitudinally spaced vertical parallel bars 66 delineating a vertical guide slot 67, the bottom of bars 66 being joined by a cross-bar 45. Bars 45 of the transversely aligned guide frames 65 are connected by a cross-bar 55 so that they move in unison.

Secured to the underface of each longitudinal frame member 18 proximate guide frames 65 is a longitudinally extending guide member 68 including vertical end legs 69 suitably bolted to corresponding frame member 18 and a horizontal longitudinally extending guide arm,

as track 70, joining the bottoms of legs 69. A transversely extending adjusting bar 71 rests on and is longitudinally movable along tracks and terminates in coaxial stub sections 72 which slidably engage guide slots 67 and are restricted against axial movement by wash ers engaging stub sections 72 and sandwiching frame legs 66 and secured by suitable lock nuts.

A longitudinally extending tubular guide member 73 is medially affixed by a bracket 74 to the underface of frame cross member 17, and an adjusting piston 76 having a threaded axial bore 77 slidably telescopes guide member 73 and is connected at its outer end to bar 71. A bearing bushing 78 is affixed in the end of guide member 73 remote from piston 76, and a threaded bar 79 engages the threaded bore 77 and ex tends through bushing 78 and has mounted on its outer end a hand crank80. A hook 81 is mounted on the distal end of each rod 63 and is engaged by one end of tension spring 82 whose opposite end engages a hook element 83 which is secured to a respective distal leg member 16. Tension springs 82 by way of levers 57 and compression springs 52 function lightly and resiliently to bias the manifold-carrying housings 35 to their raised positions, as limited by the piston 76 adjusted by hand crank'80.

A semicircular recess 84 is medially formed in the end edge of the panel section 21, a skirt wall 86 depending from the edge of recess 84 and terminating in an outwardly directed lip. A pair of transversely spaced longitudinally extending tubular guides 87 are suitably mounted below the panel section 21 and are disposed at opposite sides of recess 84. Extension rods 88 slidably telescope tubular guides 87 and are provided at their free ends with pairs of depending parallel transversely spaced bracket plates 89 supporting transverse pivot pins 90. Suitably affixed to the distal end face of platform 13 on opposite sides of recess 84 is a pair of angle brackets 90 having outwardly projecting top legs 91 coplanar with the panel section 21.

Swingably supported by pins 90 are arms 94 whose outer ends are pivotally connected by pins 96 to transversely spaced brackets 97 depending from the distal end of extension panel 98. Extension panel 98 includes a flat base 99 coextensive in width with panel section 21 and having medially formed in its proximate edge a semicircular recess 100 opposing recess 84. An upstanding lip or flange 101 extends along the full periphery of the base 99. When extension panel 98 is in its extended operative position as shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, base 99 rests on bracket legs 91 and the semicircular openings 84 and 100 delineate a circular, head-accomodating opening, the extension panel functioning as a retractably tray. Moreover, extension panel 98 may be adjustably inwardly advanced along the face of the panel 21 to any desired position. Extension panel 98 may be retracted and stored merely by swinging it together with arms 94 to a position underlying slide rods 88 and pushing the collapsed components to the retracted position of slide rods 88 in guides 87.

In employing the improved hydrotherapy apparatus 10, it is detached from the pressurized water source and manifold housings 35 are lowered by turning crank 80 to retract slide rod 76 which swings levers 57 clockwise and lowers housing support rollers 60. The apparatus 10 is wheeled to the patient, who is transferred to the platform 13 and the apparatus is then wheeled to the treatment area, braked, and the pipe 50 coupled to and composition separately may be controlled and regulated. The housings 35 are then raised by turning crank 80 to advance slide rod 76 and the water valve is then opened, the water possessing the predetermined parameters flowing through hose 50 into manifolds 44 and to the nozzles 49 which direct water jets or sprays through openings 42 onto the subject supported by panel 21. The water leaving the subject passes through drain openings 22 to a drain area of suitably supported drain pan 110, for subsequent disposal. The extension panel 98 may be extended and rendered operative, as

3.-The hydrotherapy apparatus of claim 1 wherein said platform has openings formed therein defining said desired as earlier described. Upon termination of-.

of said platform and directed toward the space above said platform, means for connecting said nozzles to a source of pressurized liquid, means for adjusting the vertical levels of said nozzles comprising-a mount member supporting a group of said nozzles along each side of said platform, and means for raising and lowering said mount members between depressed positions with said nozzles being below the level of said platform and raised positions with said nozzles being above the level of said platform.

2. The hydrotherapy apparatus of claim 1 including means for counterbalancing said mount members and nozzles.

drains.

4. The hydrotherapy apparatus of claim 1 including wheels supporting said frame, and selectively operable means to lock said wheels against movement.

5. The hydrotherapy apparatus of claim 1 comprising vertically movable housings disposed along the side borders of said platform and having discharge openings in the confronting walls thereof, said connecting means including a distributing manifold located in each of said housings. said nozzles being mounted on and communicating with said distributing manifolds and registering with said discharge openings.

6. The hydrotherapy apparatus of claim 5 including spring means counterbalancing said manifold containing housings.

7. The hydrotherapy apparatus of claim 6 including hand motivated means for raising and lowering said housings.

8. The hydrotherapy apparatus of claim 5 wherein said platform includes raised side borders having longitudinal slots formed therein, said housings registering with and being vertically movable through said slots between depressed positions with the tops of said housings at the level of said raised side borders and raised positions above said side borders.

9. The hydrotherapy apparatus of claim 1 wherein said platform has a medially located semicircular first recess formed in an end edge thereof and including a tray movable between an extended position substantially coplanar with and extending longitudinally from said platform and a retracted position below the level of said platform and having a medially located semicircular second recess formed in an end edge thereof delineating with said first recess a circular opening when said tray is in its extended position. 

1. A hydrotherapy apparatus comprising a horizontally extending platform provided with liquid drains, a support frame on which said platform is mounted, longitudinally spaced nozzles located along opposite sides of said platform and directed toward the space above said platform, means for connecting said nozzles to a source of pressurized liquid, means for adjusting the vertical levels of said nozzles comprising a mount member supporting a group of said nozzles along each side of said platform, and means for raising and lowering said mount members between depressed positions with said nozzles being below the level of said platform and raised positions with said nozzles being above the level of said platform.
 2. The hydrotherapy apparatus of claim 1 including means for counterbalancing said mount members and nozzles.
 3. The hydrotherapy apparatus of claim 1 wherein said platform has openings formed therein defining said drains.
 4. The hydrotherapy apparatus of claim 1 including wheels supporting said frame, and selectively operable means to lock said wheels against movement.
 5. The hydrotherapy apparatus of claim 1 comprising vertically movable housings disposed along the side borders of said platform and having discharge openings in the confronting walls thereof, said connecting means including a distributing manifold located in each of said housings, said nozzles being mounted on and communicating with said distributing manifolds and registering with said discharge openings.
 6. The hydrotherapy apparatus of claim 5 including spring means counterbalancing said manifold containing housings.
 7. The hydrotherapy apparatus of claim 6 including hand motivated means for raising and lowering said housings.
 8. The hydrotherapy apparatus of claim 5 wherein said platform includes raised side borders having longitudinal slots formed therein, said housings registering with and being vertically movable through said slots between depressed positions with the tops of said housings at the level of said raised side borders and raised positions above said side borders.
 9. The hydrotherapy apparatus of claim 1 wherein said platform has a medially located semicircular first recess formed in an end edge thereof and including a tray movable between an extended position substantially coplanar with and extending longitudinally from said platform and a retracted position below the level of said platform and having a medially located semicircular second recess formed in an end edge thereof delineating with said first recess a circular opening when said tray is in its extended position. 